Criminal Behaviour Order secured to clamp down on anti social behaviour

Stephen Ramshaw, of Maple Avenue, Silksworth, could face prison if he breaches the Criminal Behaviour Order secured against him at South Tyneside Magistrates Court on Tuesday 31 May.

The Council in partnership with Northumbria Police served Ramshaw a Community Protection Warning (CPW) in July 2020 after neighbours complained of abusive language and threatening and aggressive behaviour.

In March 2021, residents in the area reported increasingly intimidating behaviour from Ramshaw, with some reporting that they felt frightened to raise their concerns due to his previous history of threatening behaviour.

The CPW was escalated to Community Protection Notice (CPN) following further evidence of aggressive behaviour towards police officers who visited the address. The notice prevented Ramshaw from causing further harassment, alarm, or distress to others.

When his antisocial behaviour continued the council looked to secure a Criminal Behaviour Order, which was granted in court on Tuesday 31 May 2022.

Councillor Claire Rowntree, Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council and cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "This is someone who has repeatedly made his neighbours lives a misery and I am pleased that we've been able to secure a criminal behaviour order against him. I hope this will have a positive impact on the residents of Maple Avenue and send out a strong message that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated.

"I would also like to thank residents and local councillors for assisting us in helping to bring this matter to court. "

The Criminal Behaviour Order sets out that Ramshaw must take all necessary steps to ensure that neither he or any member of his household or visitors to his address causes excessive or unreasonable noise or conduct likely to cause nuisance, harassment, alarm or distress.

The order will remain in place for two years and breach of the order could impose a maximum sentence of up to five years imprisonment, a fine, or both.    

Chief Inspector Neil Hall, from Northumbria Police, said: "The majority of residents in the Sunderland area are a credit to the community but hopefully this Order shows that when an individual or group of people do participate in anti-social behaviour that we will take appropriate action.

"No one should have to live in fear of intimidation or aggressive behaviour in their own neighbourhood. Stephen was given multiple opportunities to turn his behaviour around, but instead of working with police and our partners, he continued to cause a nuisance and have shown a repeat disregard for the law.

"I'd like to thank the wider community for their patience and cooperation and reassure them we will continue to do all we can to act on any concerns reported to us." 

In the last 12 months, Sunderland City Council has also secured seven closure orders on problem properties to tackle ASB, as well as 139 Community Protection Warnings and 43 Community Protection Notices.